The Sunday herald., 1887-01-16
THE RIVER FRONT.
what viii ne and what May Ne when
the Flats are ImprOve0.

what VIII Re and what May Ne when
the Flats are Improved.
Almost every one takes sort OF anguid interest
In the Potomac Flats Improvement There Is gen.
eral Idea that recaiming the Oats will make the city
more healthy, and therefore II ough, to be done.
When there is danger OF having no appropriation to
continue the work every one feels sort Of indefinite
Indignation. 1t is agreeable TO think that number
OF highly improved drcdgcs are necessarily a, work
taking the mud from the bottom OF the river and
putting II on top. But there are few who have any
clear Idea OF what Ia really taking place out on the
as or OF the result that is going to be achieved by
It, transformation is rapidly taking place In the
appearance OF the river 'front.' great amount OF
work has been already done, but Its effect Just q,
the present stage Ia not beautiful. The long low
banks OF dark soil do not look much like charming
park but they do represent the greatest part of the
labor required TO make a park cut OF the river
Like the coral insect, which has 30 frequently been
used to stimulate the youthful fancy to patient In
dustry, the ponderous dredge docs Its monotonous
task for n long time before 1t makes any show.
When It has drawn the rich black mud
from the river bottom, aud piled It up on the marshes
until II makes perceptible island 1t becomes an
easy matter for the landscape gardener to go out
and lay ont an Ingenious labryrinth of serpentIne
walks. and sod and plant shrubbery and make foun
talns 1ow and beds OF colofed follage plants and
geraniums grow. All these future delights are com
parativoly near when the nas are raised above the
water level, and great number OF acres are already
reclaimed, as may who will take stroll, OF
askate, down that way. This park, when completed,
will have charm which no other about the city has
fromlts being right on the river. No matter how
opinions may vary as TO the advantages OF water as
beverage, no one disputes It's value as feature Of
scenery. Even the people who are prejudiccd
against Its use admit It's beauty. The great uu.
washed nock to the sea shore. The popularity OF
steamboat excursions Ia only equalcd by their dis
comfort park along the river front, therefore,
Will please all classes anu will lie largely resorted to-
There arc some possibilities about tho reclaimed
n,ts, however, which have never been spoken OF.
aud as the sword In season" Is the word which
coants, want to call attention In time 10 some OF
the things which should be done Tor our enjoyment
Anything which furnishes heaithful recreation,
which makes wholesome outdoor sport accessible
and attractive, Is helpful to the physical and moral
well-oeng OF the community. tits not enough, then,
to lay out the reclaimed flats as pleasure ground
where people may walk or ride. That is very nice.
but there is an opportunity In completing the park
to supply few "ongfelt vans OF this city, which
will contribute much TO Its attractlveness to
strangers aud more TO tho comforts of It's residents
There has been an exclamation oil dsinay at the
prospect OF nlng Babcock Lake. It Is not a very
good place to skate, but 1t IL safe and convenient.
The Star suggested that another artificial lake be
| ground. There is no need OF that. The reservoir
| for 1ushlng the Washington channel will form a
lake OF ten or 0fteen acres only quarter Of mile
| from Babcock Lake 1t is already inclosed by Its
| banks, and extends from near the Long Bridge ur
above the Monument. There could not he more
admirable place for skating; the only danger Is tina,
the Fish Commission will want 1t. We all admire
| the Commission, but when we have 10 keep Oft the
most tempting pieces Of Ice for fear Of disturbing
the nerves OF lot of lazy carp ALTERNATING In The
mud below 1t becomes a vexaton.
II Is hard to understand why the lakes west Of thu
Monument drive are forbidden for ska,cra. Within
few years boys were permitted to skate ON all th
series Of lakes. Now 1t Is asserted that the lives
the fish are endangered by skating ovet them. i
seems much more plausible that the ire Of the ras
clbe Teuton who presides over the fish ponds ha
been excited by the exuberant Americansm o
some of our boys until he has revenged himself OF
the whole race by driving them of his domain. iii
zeal in protecting his feow-emgrant, the GermaI
carp. quite misplaced for It is sluggish as him
self and about as inedble-a very useless addition Il
our piscatoral resources. BY all means, II the Fls
Commission must be located In the flushing reser
voir, let 1t be In the farthest corner.
In the Geological Garden at Philadelphia Ia
little building close to the rivers edge, provides
with stove and benches, and a slantlng boar
walk to the waters edge, on which one can walk Il
skates without iDjurlng them
On the shore of the flushing lake at the neares
point, somewhere near the Monument boiler-house
should be such little cottage, where fire could b
made and skaters could adjust their skates or warn
themselves. bath.house for summer use could b
well located there also. The rows OF men and boy
sitting on the wharves and lumber piles waiting 70
sunset, all their preparations made to jump Int
the water, are familiar spectacles Of a summe
| evening, and show how much need there Is of som
adequate bathing arrangements.
This reservoir can be easily flooded IN winter s
as to keep agood skating surface. Out on the sea
wall beyond this lake, near the foot Of Seveneent
street extended, should be a handsome boat -hous,
1t ought to be built of stone In the most peasln
style of architecture, and with the most compet
Interior appointments To borrow another illusra
ton from Philadelphia, the buildings OF the Schuy
2 kill Navy in Farmount Park furnish some goo
e Illustrations Of what this boat-house should b.
They harm onze very pretty with the scenery
the park and are an ornament to 1t. These, how
ever, are owned by the clubs, and but In the par
I By permission. Here the boat clubs are alread
well housed further up. This boat houi
a should be built by the city for the people. II shou
be well supplied with good boats for rent at vel
4 moderate ra.e, and also abundance OF boat ar
d locker room for persons owning their boats. III
q expenses Of maintaining 1t would be light, and
very low rate OF rents would cover them, and at II
!. same time place this delightful summer amuseme
b within reach OF hundreds OF people who now cam
. afford to belong to club and fnd boats scarce nj
e ! expensive at the public boahous The locate
!. | Of this boathouse would make 1t attractive to
/. large class of people who might be indifferent TO Il
l., cost Of boating but find 1t inconvenent. It won
d be the only one to which b!cycler could ride wit
!. out dismount. lie could reach 1t in i've mlnut
s from the busiest part Of the town. For the peop
who drive would be equally convenient, Just In Il
10 line of the favorite ride through the parks. For Il
people who walk is easily within reach. In nshort
would add TO the pleasure OF hundreds of peop
10 and form delightful feature Of the new river par